Paper strap forming machine



July 31, 1951 Y F. A. GRANT 9 PAPER STRAP FORMING MACHINE Filed July 19, 1947 3 Sheets-Sheet l i il IIIIIIIIIIIIIIIA FRGI Frank /4. Grant INVEN TOR.

y 31, 1951 F. A. GRANT 2,562,454

PAPER STRAP FORMING MACHINE Filed July 19, 1947 3 Sheets-Sheet 2 Fran Ir ,4. Grant INVENTOR. aw

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Patented July 31, 1 951 PAPER STRAP FORMING MACHINE Frank A. Grant, Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada, assignor, by mesne assignments, to Paper Strap, Inc., Portland, Oreg., a corporae tion of Oregon Application July 19, 1947, Serial No. 762,169

The present invention relates to machines for making paper strap.

j" Relatively durable strap may be formed from a web of paper by folding over the opposite edge portions thereof a plurality of times upon itself and which strap is suitable for many uses. It is the general object of the present invention to provide a relatively simple, compact machine for producing such paper strap in quantity.

A further object of the present invention is to provide a machine of the class described which is capable of high speed operation.

Another object of the invention is to provide a machine of the class described having all workingparts readily accessible for maintenance purposes.

Another object of the invention is to provide a paper strap folding machine having all parts so arranged that the web may be threaded therethrough with a minimum'of diificulty.

And a further object is to provide a machine comprising relatively few parts of simple design and of low manufacturing cost.

For a consideration of what is believed novel and inventive, attention is directed to the following'description taken in connection with the accompanying drawings while the features of novelty will be pointed out with greater particularity in the appended claims.

r In the drawings, Fig. 1 is a vertical sectional View of a machine constructed in accordance with one form of the present invention and taken along the line |l of Fig. 2; Fig. 2 is a plan view of the machine shown in Fig. 1 with the paper web omitted; Fig. 3 is an end view of the machine taken along line 3-3 of Fig. 2; Fig. 4 is a view taken along the line 3-4 of Fig. 1; Fig. 5 is a view taken alongthe line 55 of Fig. 1; Fig. 6 is an enlarged view of one detail incorporated in the machine; Fig"? is an enlarged fragmentary View illustrating further details of the machine; Fig. 8 is aview taken along line 8 -8 of Fig. 2; and Fig. 9 is an enlarged, diagrammatic view illustrating the mode of operation of certain parts of the machine.

'Referring now to the drawings, the machine of'the invention is'mounted upon a base plate ll! afiixed to the'top of the pedestal II. A supply roll ii? of paper is adapted to be mounted upon a suitable supporting means l3 attached to the pedestal H. The web It from the roll 12 after passing through thefolding machine indicated generally by the reference character [5 and formed into a strap thereby is wound up on a take'up roll indicated at Hi. The we 19m the 11 Claims. (01. 270-94) roll I2 passes around the front end of the ma chine over a guide roller from whence it passes under the roller 22! mounted between the ends of a pair of pivoted bracket arms 22. The bracket" arms 22 are biased by a suitably arranged spring" inlthe counterclockwise direction as viewed in is. r The machine l5 comprises a pair of opposite parallel side frame members 24 and 25 formed, in this instance, of steel plate and which aresecured along their lower edge portions onto the base plate H]. For reasons as will subsequently appear, the upper portions of the frame members are semi-circular in shape while the plates are further provided with relatively large circular openings 26. The paper Web I4 is formed into paper strap by coaction of a multiplicity of rollers and other elements mounted between the side frame members adjacent the peripheral portions thereof surrounding the openings 26. The foldingmechanism operates" in such a manner as to fold' over the opposite outer edge portions of the web," one layer at a'time, and upon the same side of the web until at the end of the successive folding stages the inwardly folded edge portions, each comprising a plurality of layers, substantially: meet along the center line of the web butdo not overlap each other. For facilitating the folding of the web, suitable scoring means are provided at'the inlet to the machine while adjacent the discharge end further means are provided for setting the folds and also for imparting a degree: of flexibility thereto.

The machine is driven by an electric motor 28.; through a belt 29 extending around the driven pulley 30. The pulley 30 is mounted upon the end" of a shaft 3! suitably journaled within the frame members 24 and 25. Secured to the shaft 3| is a rubber faced flanged pulley 33 around whichthe folded strap is trained and whereby the web is pulled through the machine. It is to be understood that, for starting the machine, the web must first be threaded through the successive: stages of the machine and brought into engagement with the friction pulley 33.

While any suitable means may be provided for scoring the surface of the web I4, the scoring:

means in this instance comprises a pair of co-* operating rollers 35 and 36. As illustrated in the enlarged fragmentary view of Fig. '7, the upper roller 35 is provided with a plurality of suitably spaced circumferential V-shaped ridges 3l while the lower roller 36 is provided with cooperating V-shaped grooves 38 aligned with the ridges 31;.

A plurality of web supporting, or foldsetting to for convenience hereinafter-as folder rollers...

are mounted between the side frame members and upon the opposite side of the path of travel of the paper web with respect to the rollers 40-43, inclusive. These folder rollers 45-41 are suitably mounted upon the ends of corresponding individual fixed brackets and which, in turn, may

be adjusted so as to swing the roller carried thereby into operative engagement with the web. The

folder roller 44 is mounted between the scoring roller 35 and the first set of supporting rolls 40. As illustrated more clearly in the view of Fig. 4, the folder roller 44 has a length corresponding substantiallyto the width of the spacing between the two outermost scores formed adjacent the opposite edges of the web M. The opposite edge portions of the web thus overhang the opposite ends of the roller 44 and are free to curve up wardly adjacent the opposite ends of the roller 44, as illustrated in the view of Fig. 9.

- Passing from the roller 44 the web then proceeds through the stationarily mounted deflector element 50 which is illustrated more clearly in the enlarged view of Fig. 6. The deflector element 50 is formed of a length of rod and which is provided with a slot 5| open along its upper side, the width of the slot 5| being slightly wider than. the spacing between the two outermost scores formed in the paper web. Inwardly extending fingers 52'overhanging the opposite ends of'the slot 5| engage with the outer edge portions |4a of the web and guide them inwardly of the web as shown in Fig. 6. As the web proceeds upwardly over the next adjacent set of supporting rollers 40, the edge portions |4a are pulled down flatagainst the upper surface of the intermediate portions of the web l4. In passing over the rollers: 40, the path oftravel of the web is changed through a considerable angle and, due to-the differential in radius between the intermediate web portion and the folded edge portions, the increase-in tension in the edge portions causes a certain amount of setting of the folded creases. Particular attention is directed to the fact that the roller 44 presses against the web l4 to deflect it inwardly between the rollers 35 and 40 and also that the roller 44 is shorter than the width of the web whereby the outer edge portions commence to curve upwardly ahead of the roller. This operation is clearly shown in Fig. 9.

From the supporting rollers 40, the web passes beneath the next successive folder roller 45 which serves a function similar to the roller 44' as previously described. The roller 45 is shorter than roller 44, however, the length thereof being substantially equal to the spacing between the next outermost scores of the web.- The outer edge portions are thereupon given another inward fold which folding isfurther guided by another deflector element 54 similar to the element 50 as previously described, the slot in the element 54 being shorter, however, than the slot 5| in the element 50 and of a length corresponding sub stantially to that of the folder roller 45. The web then progresses over the second set of supporting rollers 4| and from whence it passes beneath the, third folder roller 46. The outer edge portions of the web. having been folded over twice prior to reaching the roller 46, are sufficiently stiff so that when folded over further during the initial threading operation and drawn over the next set of supporting rollers 42, a further deflector element similar to the elements 5|! and 54, as previously described, is unnecessary. In passing from the supporting rollers 42, the web then. passes beneath the last folder roller 41 whereupon the opposite edge portions are each given an additional inward fold before passing over the. last supporting roller 43. Here again no deflector is required for guiding the folding movement of the outer edge portion, it being merely necessary for the folder roller 41 to press inwardly against the intermediate portion of the web. In this instance the length of the roller 41 corresponds to the spacing between the two innermost scores of the web.

In passing over the last supporting roller 43, the web is completely formed into strap; but the strap at this point is relatively stiff because of the multiple layers in each of thefolded edge portions. Furthermore, if nothing more were done to the strap, severed short lengths thereof would tend to unfold due to incomplete setting of the paper fibers along the crease lines. As the web is drawn through angles in passing over the supporting rollers40-43, inclusive, a certain amount of setting of the folds is accomplished so that these rolls may also be aptly referred to as fold setting means interspaced between the folder rolls 44-41. In order to effect further setting of the folds, however, and also to impart a considerable degree of flexibility to the strap, it is then drawn. through a plurality of relatively sharp bends in successive opposite directions. In the machine illustrated, a pair of additional rollers 60 and 6| are mounted within turret end plates 62 which are, in turn, secured to the adjacent frame members 24 and 25. As illustrated more clearly in the view of Fig. 1, the strap is trained around the rollers 60 and 6| in opposite directions. By rotatable adjustment of the turret end plates 62, the extent of the bends formed in the paper strap may be varied as may be required to accomplish the desired result. The rollers 60 and 6| may, for convenience, hereinafter be referred to either as fold setting means or strap flexing means or combined fold setting and flexing means.

From the roll 6|, the strap passes around the puller roller 33 previously described. Idler roller 64 bears against the strap between the roller 4| and the puller roller 33 to insure adequate frictional engagement between the strap and the latter roller.

From the description given thus far, it should be apparent why the alternate supporting rollers and folder rollers are arranged in a generally circular configuration. Whilev the folding and fold setting operations could be carried out with a substantially straight line path of travel for the paper web, the operation may be carried out with a considerably shorter total length of travel with the elements arranged in the circular configuration shown. The over-all length of the machine is also reduced to a minimum with the arrangements shown with resultant economy of spacerequirements. The folding operations face outwardly at each step and which may be clearly viewed by the attendant; and faulty operation, such as of a defective part, may readily be detected. Since all of the working parts are closely adjacent the periphery of the frame, they are readily accessible for such adjustment as may be required. By virtue of the large central opening 26 in the frame members, the web can be easily threaded through the machine for starting or in the event of breakage.

In starting the machine, the end of the paper strap is suitably secured to a spindle '61 rotatably rods which are secured at their opposite ends to a corresponding one of the blocks 68.

When the end of the strap is secured to the spindle 6! and the latter held in operative engagement with respect to the roller 33 by weight 12, the spindle 6'! is rotated at the same peripheral rate of speed as the roller 33. The spindle is, of course, driven in a direction opposite to that of the roller 33 and the strap will be wound up thereupon. As the diameter of the coil of strap on spindle 61 increases, the supporting blocks 68 will be caused to slide outwardly along the supporting tracks 69, ill but the periphery of the strap coil will always be held against the motor driven roller 33 between the flanges thereof. The flanges provided on roller 33 engaging with the opposite sides of the edges of the coil IB insure straight winding of the strap upon the coil. Further, longitudinal rollers 18, 19 mounted on the inside of the corresponding supporting tracks 69HJ stabilize the coil l6 during rotation thereof. After the coil or strap has been built up to a reasonable size, the strap may be severed and the end secured and the coillifted from the blocks 68. The spindle 6'! may then be withdrawn, the end of the strap again secured thereto and a new coil wound up thereupon.

Having described the invention in what is considered to be a preferred embodiment thereof, it is desired that it be understood that the specific details are merely illustrative and that the invention may be carried out by other means.

What I claim as my invention is:

1. A machine for forming strap by folding over the opposite edge portions of a relatively narrow web of paper a plurality of times, the folded edge portions meeting substantially along the center line of strap on one side thereof in a nonoverlapping relation, said machine comprising means for forming a plurality of parallel scores longitudinally of the paper web, a plurality of spaced apart supporting rolls mounted in said machine and arranged on the same side of the path of travel of said web, means at the discharge end of said machine for pulling the web therethrough, folding means mounted between each adjacent pair of said supporting rolls and on the opposite side of saidweb With respect to said supporting rolls, "said folding means each comprising a rollerbearing against the surface of said web and deflecting it downwardly between each adjacent pair of said supporting rolls, the first of said foldlng means nearest said scoring means being adapted for folding over the opposite edge portions of said web along the two outermost scores, each of the successive ones of said folding means being adapted for folding over the edge portions along the next adjacent outer scores.

.2. A machine for forming strap from a relatively narrow web of paper, said machine comprising a pair of cooperating scoring rolls for forming a plurality of parallel scores longitudin'ally of the paper web passing therebetween, a

6 plurality of spaced apart fold setting rolls mounted in said machine and arranged on the same side of the path of travel of said web, pulling means at the discharge end of said machine for pulling the web therethrough, folding means mounted between each adjacent pair of said supporting rolls and on the opposite side of the path of travel of said web with respect to said fold setting rolls, said folding means each comprising a roller bearing against the surface of said web and deflecting it downwardly between each adjacent pair of said fold setting rolls, take up means operatively engaged by said pulling means for winding up the strap emerging from said machine.

3. A machine for forming strap from a relatively narrow web of paper, said machine com prising scoring means for forming a plurality of parallel scores longitudinally of the paper web,

a plurality of spaced apart rolls mounted in said machine and arranged on the same side of the path of travel of said web, means at the dis-- means nearest said scoring means folding said web along the two outermost scores adjacent the opposite edges of said web, each of the successive ones of said folding means folding said web along the next successive outermost scores, said folding means each comprising a roller bearing against the surface of said web and deflecting it down wardly between each adjacent pair of said rolls, said rollers being of progressively decreasing width from said scoring means, and a combined fold setting and strap flexing means arranged after said last folding means.

4. A machine for forming strap by folding over the opposite edge portions of a relatively narrow Web of paper a plurality of times, the folded edge portions meeting substantially along the center line of strap on one side thereof in a nonoverlapping relation, said machine comprising a pair of cooperating scoring rolls for forming a plurality of parallel scores longitudinally of the paper Web passing therebetween, a plurality of spaced apart supporting rolls mounted in said machine and arranged on the same side of the path of travel of said Web, means at the discharge end of said machine for pulling the web therethrough, a folding roll mounted between each adjacent pair of said supporting rolls and on the opposite side of said web with respect to said supporting rolls, said folding rolls being so positioned as to deflect the web downwardly be tween each adjacent pair of said supporting rolls, 7

the'first of said folding rolls. nearest said scoring rolls having a length corresponding substantially to the spacing between the two outermost scores along the opposite edges of said web whereby the overhanging opposite edge portions of said web are free to fold upwardly at the opposite ends of said first roll in moving therepast, each of the successive ones of said folding rolls being shorter than the preceding one and of a length corresponding substantially to the spacing be the opposite edge portions of a relativelynarrow web of-paper a plurality of times. the -folded edge portions meeting substantially along the center line of strap on one side thereof ina nonoverlapping, relation, said machine comprising apair of cooperating scoring rolls for forming. a plurality of parallel scores longitudinally of the paper web passing therebetween, a plurality of spaced apart supporting rolls mounted in said machine and arranged on the same side of the path of travel of said web, .mea-ns at the discharge end of said machine for pulling the web therethrough,. a press roll mounted between. each adjacent pair of said supporting rolls and on the opposite side of the path'of travel of said web with respect to said supporting rolls, said press roll's: being so positioned as to deflect the web downwardly between each adjacent pair of said supportingv r olls, the first of said press rolls nearestsaid scoring rolls having a length corresponding substantially to the Spacing between the two outermost scores formed along the opposite edges of said web whereby the overhanging opposite edge portions of said webare free to fold upwardly at the opposite ends of said first roll in moving therepast, each of the successive ones of said press rolls being shorter than the preceding one and of a length corresponding substantially to the spacing between the succeeding outer.

two-scores formed on said web.

6 A machine'for forming strap by folding over the opposite edge portions of a relatively narrow substantially along the center line of the strap on one side thereof in a nonoverlapping relation,said machine comprising a pair of parallel side frame members, a pair of cooperating scoring rolls adjacent the inlet end of said machine for forming a plurality of parallel scores longitudinally of the web passing therebetween, a plurality of spaced apart fold setting rolls rotatably mounted between said frame members in a substantially circular configuration and on the same side of the path of travel of said web through the machine, means at the discharge end of said machine for pulling the web therethrough, a plurality of folder rolls rotatably mounted between said frame members, one of said folder rolls being mounted between each adjacent pair of said spaced apart supporting rolls and on the opposite side of the path of travel of said Web with respect to said folder rolls, the first of said folder rolls nearest said scoring rolls folding said web along the two outermost scores adjacent the opposite edges of said web, each of the successive folder rolls folding said web along the next successive pair of scores along the opposite sides of said web, and a combined foldsetting and flexing means mounted between said last folder roll and said web pulling means.

7. A machine for forming strap by folding over the opposite edge portions of a relatively narrow paper web a plurality of times throughout its entire length, the folded edge portions meeting substantially along the center line of the strap on one side thereof in a nonoverlapping relation, said machine comprising a pair of parallel frame members, a pair of cooperating scoring rolls adjacent the inlet end of said machine for forming a plurality of parallel scores longitudinally of the web passing therebetween, a plurality of spaced apart supporting rolls rotatably mounted between said frame members in a substantially circular configuration and on the same side of the path of travel of said web through the machine, means at the-discharge end of said machine for pulling the web therethrough, a rotatably' mounted between said frame members, one of said folder rolls being mounted between each adjacent pair of said spaced apart supporting rolls and on the opposite side of the path of travel of said web with respect to said supporting rolls, said folder rolls being so positioned as to press the web'downwardly between each adjacent pair of said supporting rolls, the first of said folder rolls nearest said scoring rolls having a length corresponding substantially to the spacing between the two outermost scores along the opposite edges of said web whereby the overhanging opposite edge portions of said web are free to fold upwardly at the opposite ends of said first folder roll in moving therepast, each of the successive folder rolls being shorter than the preceding one and having a length corresponding substantially to the next successive pair of scores along the opposite sides of said web.

8. A machine for forming strap by folding over the opposite edge portion of a relatively narrow paper web a plurality of times throughoutits entire length, the folded edge portions meetingsubstantially-along the center line of the strapon one side thereof in a nonoverlapping relation, said machinecomprising a pair of parallel frame members, a pair of cooperating scoring rolls adjacent the inlet end of said machine for forming a plurality of parallel scores longitudinally of the web passing therebetween, a plurality of spaced apart supporting rolls rotatably mounted between said frame members in a substantially circular configuration and on the same side of the path of travel of. said web through the machine, means at the discharge end of said ma.

chine for pulling the web therethrough, a plurality of folder rolls rotatably mounted between said frame members, one of 'said' folder rolls being mounted between each: adjacent pair of said spaced apart supporting rolls and on the opposite side of the path of travel of said web with: respect to said: supporting rolls; said folder rolls beingiso positioned as'to press the: web downwardly between each adjacent pair of'saidsupportingrolls, the first of said folder rolls nearest said scoring rolls having a length corresponding substantially to the spacing between the two outermost scores along the opposite edges of said web whereby the overhanging opposite'edge portions of said web are free to fold upwardly at the opposite ends of said firstfolder roll in moving therepast, each of thesuccessive folder rolls being shorter than the preceding one and having a length corresponding substantially to the next successive pair of scores along the opposite sides of said web, and a pair of: closely spaced rolls arranged after the last of said folder rolls for forming a pair of relatively sharp reverse bends in said folded web.

- 9. A machine for forming strap from a paper web, said machine comprising a pair of parallel frame members, a scoring means adjacent the inlet end of said machine for forming a plurality I ing means being mounted between each adja'-- cent pair of said spaced apart fold setting rolls and. on the opposite side of the-path of travel-M plurality of folder rolls of said web with respect to said fold setting rolls, the successive ones of said folding means being adapted to fold over the outer edge portions of said web along corresponding successive scores from the opposite outer edges thereof inwardly toward the center.

10. A machine for forming strap from a relatively narrow paper web, said machine comprising a pair of parallel frame members, a plurality of spaced apart fold setting rolls rotatably mounted between said frame members in a substantially circular configuration and on the same side of the path of travel of said web through the machine, a puller roll at the discharge end of said machine for pulling the web therethrough, a plurality of folding means mounted between said frame members, one of said folding means being mounted between each adjacent pair of said spaced apart fold setting rolls and on the opposite side of the path of travel of said web with respect to said fold setting rolls, a spindle for receiving folded strap from said machine, means supporting said spindle and holding the coil thereon in engagement with said puller roll.

11. A machine for forming strap from a relatively narrow paper web, said machine comprising a pair of parallel side frame members, a plurality of spaced apart fold setting rolls rotatably mounted between said frame members, and on the same side of the path of travel of said web through the machine, a puller roll at the discharge end of said machine for pulling the web 10 therethrough, a plurality of folding means mounted between said frame members, one of said folding means being mounted between each adjacent pair of said spaced apart fold setting rolls and on the-opposite side of the path of travel of said web with respect to said fold setting rolls, a spindle for receiving folded strap from said machine, a horizontal track having one end adjacent said puller roll, means slidably supporting said spindle on said track for movement toward and away from said puller roll, and means urging said spindle toward said puller roll.

FRANK A. GRANT.

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the file of this patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 764,328 Adams July 5, 1904 1,703,456 Potter Feb. 26, 1929 2,126,138 Reise Aug. 9, 1938 2,128,664 Sackner et al Aug. 30, 1938 2,410,059 Garrison Oct. 29, 1946 FOREIGN PATENTS Number Country Date 588,093 France Apr. 29, 1925 3,141 Great Britain June 10, 1909 19,244 Great Britain Aug. 29, 1914 

